Go to page

Go to page

Well-known member

You will be surprised to learn that the invasion of Iraq was not the cause of Middle East chaos ... no, the cause is Barack Obama. Obama's policy was not his strongest suit, but Bush did not exactly deal him a cracking good hand!

Well-known member

Publicly lecturing Erdogan with Netanyahu by his side was never going to pass unanswered. With their ridiculously abrasive style, Bolton and Pompeo look set to accentuate the Trump effect among America’s allies.

Well-known member

Publicly lecturing Erdogan with Netanyahu by his side was never going to pass unanswered. With their ridiculously abrasive style, Bolton and Pompeo look set to accentuate the Trump effect among America’s allies.

Al Jazeera do an overview of the failing policies of the last two American Presidents, as well as the current one.

Pompeo chastised Obama for disengaging in Iraq, arguing that "when America retreats, chaos follows". Yet this is exactly what is currently unfolding in Syria, following Trump's hasty decision to pull out US troops from the country's northeast region

The most risible bit is the suggestion that Pompeo was making the speech to Trump, as this is the only way to get him to listen to someone, instead of consulting his latest impulse.

Bolton and Pompeo's job will be a hard one to do, as both have lost their credibility in the Middle East. Moving forward, no regional leader or policymaker will believe that they speak on Trump's behalf. What they were preaching about Syria for most of 2018 was momentously discredited by the president's recent remarks that the US has no business staying in Syria.

The fact is that Trump has never been more isolated at home and abroad and a damage control speech in Cairo by his secretary of state is not enough to save the US president from himself.

People in the region for the most part (outside of Saudi Arabia and the UAE) really dislike US policy. Zogby notes, “It is important to note that the United States only receives single digit favorable ratings in Iraq and Egypt.” That is, in both Egypt, where Pompeo spoke, and in Iraq, which he had just visited, over 90% of the population has an unfavorable view of the United States.

Well-known member

Bolton's problem was that he was ill tempered and too blunt to deal with the US's enemies and adversaries.

Trump's problem is that he's ill tempered and too blunt/compromised to deal with the US's friends.

I'm really not sure how anyone could have talked to Bolton in the interview process and thought "Yeah, he's going to be on board with us abandoning the Kurds who fought and died for interests the US share".

Hence his efforts now to try and get a deal done on their safety.

I'm living in America, and in America, you're on your own. America's not a country. It's just a business. Now f***ing pay me.

Well-known member

.....U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Germany of being a “captive” of Moscow due to its reliance on Russian energy and urged it to halt work on the $11 billion gas pipeline.

The pipeline, which would carry gas straight to Germany under the Baltic Sea, is driving a wedge between Germany and its allies as it would deprive Ukraine of the lucrative gas transit fees it currently enjoys.

U.S. Ambassador Richard Grenell addressed the issue in a letter sent to several companies, the U.S. Embassy said.

“The letter reminds that any company operating in the Russian energy export pipeline sector is in danger under CAATSA of U.S. sanctions,” the spokesman said, adding that other European states also opposed the planned pipeline.

Germany and other European allies accuse Washington of using its Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) to meddle in other counties’ foreign and energy policies due to its extraterritorial effect......

Well-known member

James Baker, a close friend of the president and in many ways more talented, could be trusted by third parties to speak for him, be discreet and deliver a deal. Such a person is impossible in Trumpworld for multiple obvious reasons. Pompeo’s speech in Cairo was for an American audience of one.

Well-known member

But it is ok to say the Turks will slaughter the Kurds if the US pulls out(Democrats , media , anti trumpers) , but once Trump says there will repercussions for them if they do, then Trump has stepped over the line by saying that?

Well-known member

But it is ok to say the Turks will slaughter the Kurds if the US pulls out(Democrats , media , anti trumpers) , but once Trump says there will repercussions for them if they do, then Trump has stepped over the line by saying that?

I'm saying carrying out diplomatic policy via Twitter is a dumb idea. I'm saying giving Erdogan mixed messages is poor management. I'm saying threatening economic sanctions on somebody you believe is about to kill you is unlikely to give you much comfort.